Passport Renewal / Application - Time Taken?

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As a follow up to this, I have just renewed my UK passport by post from Sydney and the key dates were;

9 January - applied online
10 January - posted old passport to UK using regular post
26 January - passport office acknowledges receipt
30 January - passport approved
31 January - passport printed and posted
5 February - passport received via DHL courier

So the biggest delay seems to be the postal service. Once the passport was received processing was pretty quick.
Did you have to send your AU passport as well or is that only for first time applicants?
 
As a follow up to this, I have just renewed my UK passport by post from Sydney and the key dates were;

9 January - applied online
10 January - posted old passport to UK using regular post
26 January - passport office acknowledges receipt
30 January - passport approved
31 January - passport printed and posted
5 February - passport received via DHL courier

So the biggest delay seems to be the postal service. Once the passport was received processing was pretty quick.

I think not just the post delay -- it's also the time it takes HMPO to match up your delivery with your application.

Just done my UK renewal. According to the Aus Post tracker it was delivered on Wed 7 Feb, but it took them a full week before they processed it--then I got the "we've received your documents" and "approved" messages within the space of a few hours yesterday (Wed 14th).
 
Our passports arrived this morning,19/2, after the application was lodged on Thursday 8th Feb. I don't see how anyone could really complain too much about that turnaround time.

Our Passport Numbers begin with RA. For some reason I had not realised that each page now shows Australian landmarks.

My only problem is - who is that bald old man staring out from the various photographs?
 
Our passports arrived this morning,19/2, after the application was lodged on Thursday 8th Feb. I don't see how anyone could really complain too much about that turnaround time.

Our Passport Numbers begin with RA. For some reason I had not realised that each page now shows Australian landmarks.

My only problem is - who is that bald old man staring out from the various photographs?
Yes
Good service
And weirdly — all photos now look more B&W than color 🤔
 
Has anyone renewed a child's passport lately? How long did it take? Thanks!
Once paperwork was submitted properly (ie all the nit-picking squared away), it only took a couple of weeks. (despite being based in Alice Springs)
 
Auspost will want their nearly $15 for the 6 photos.
So, obstinately, they will say its DFaT rules, that passport photos must resemble the holder, so, it won't ever be the case of using former photos.
 
Yes
Good service
And weirdly — all photos now look more B&W than color 🤔
I had a look and the reason for the B&W effect is because they are now "laser-engraved" rather than printed with inks. Apparently for increased security. I can remember that in Customs we had people who were trained in all sorts of methods to detect fake or tampered passports - UV light etc. This new method apparently makes it a lot harder to tamper with the photo.


 

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